John Baird

[The Economy, May 10th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, let me say this. These tax cuts that our government has brought in, championed by the member's own Liberal critic, have helped create thousands of jobs. Just last month we saw the Canadian economy create 108,000 new jobs. That is not just a number; 108,000 people got a phone call and the voice on the other end of the phone said, “You got the job”. We are going to be committed to job creation, committed to economic growth, committed to making Canada the best place to work, live, invest and raise a family.

[The Economy, May 10th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I know where I was in the 1990s. I was at Queen's Park listening to speeches by the member for Toronto Centre, talking about the devastating effect that the Liberals' $25 billion cuts to health care made. If the member opposite does not want to believe me, he should listen to the member for Markham—Unionville. “I think...the Chrétien government—even though I am a Liberal—cut perhaps too deeply, too much offloading, with the benefit of hindsight. And there were some negative effects...”. I agree with him.

[The Economy, May 10th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, if the leader of the Liberal Party wants to talk about where the Minister of Finance was during the 1990s, we could have that conversation as to where the leader of the Liberal Party was in the 1990s.

The leader of the official opposition was not in the country, but in the 1990s we also saw Shawinigate and the sponsorship scandal, and Canadians are still looking for the $39 million that is still missing. Maybe the leader of the Liberal Party could help us with that.

[Questions on the Order Paper, May 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to a) There was no hiatus.

With regard to b) Total monetary value of the current program is $ 4 million and the duration is four years, April 1, 2009--March 31, 2013.

With regard to c) Yes: (i) Term of the previous program was six years with a monetary value of $ 5 million. (ii) The previous program was originally five years however the minister extended it for one year, April 1, 2008 - March 31, 2009, to allow completion of a major airfield restoration project that had commenced but could not be completed during the last year of the original five-year term. The term of the program has historically been five years. In order to align the program term with the departmental program review cycle the current extension was set at four years. Program funding has historically averaged $1 million per year and the $ 4 million over four years for the current program is consistent with historical funding.

[Ethics, May 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, during question period I quoted from documents pertaining to a relationship between the member for Scarborough—Rouge River and a group entitled Paradise Forever and a Mr. Muhammad Heft with respect to lobbying and advocacy activities that the member was undertaking in the United Arab Emirates. I would like to table those documents here in the House.

[Ethics, May 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, we are very concerned about ethics in government, which is why the first action our government took was to bring in the Federal Accountability Act. We want to see further reforms to lobbyists. The Liberal Party was fighting us on those lobby reforms and they would not tell us why. Now we know. The Liberal leader appointed a paid lobbyist who advertises for foreign clients and foreign interests. He put him on the standing committee of the review of statutory regulations, a senior body in Canada that is there to protect the public interests.

Canadians have every right to know who the Liberal Party is representing, the public's interests or their private interests?

[Transportation, May 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, it is very important that the allocation of funding to provinces be equitable. The previous government provided funds to Toronto and our government is working with the other provinces.

I must say that I am pleased that a Bloc member would like our government, the federal government, to provide additional funds to a building named after Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

[Transportation, May 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, we have worked well with the Quebec government. We have provided a great deal of money through the economic action plan and the building Canada fund. We have always been pleased to work with the Quebec government to address Quebeckers' needs. I have met often with Quebec government ministers. I would be pleased to discuss this matter with them the next time.

[Government Appointments, May 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the member raises the issue with respect to the IDRC board. I think Canadians will know that the Hon. Barbara McDougall is an outstanding Canadian who has made a great contribution not just in Canada but, as a former foreign minister, around the world. I think she will do, and continue to do, an excellent job in chairing this important board, both in Canada and abroad.

[Government Policies, May 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I know Canadians want answers. They want to know what the Liberal member for Scarborough—Rouge River was doing on a sponsored trip, where he was there to lobby interests in the United Arab Emirates, which was paid for by group called Paradise Forever, an Islamic religious group, for he and his assistant, Amber Watkins. This organization was led by a gentleman named Mr. Muhammad Heft.

Who was the Liberal MP lobbying in the United Arab Emirates? Was it the government of the United Arab Emirates or was it private sector interests? Why would the Liberal leader not have made this public when we were seeking to reform the lobbyist rules earlier—